Mangroves of the island Ladies

Just about ten kilometres from the city of Quepos, this small small (6 km2) of a virgin nature has survived by miracle the insatiable voracity of the real estate promoters and farms. It is no exaggeration to say that the destruction of the mangrove of Isla Damas would be an ecological catastrophe, even if on a small scale because of the tiny size it occupies. There are no "small" disasters... First because mangrove has a fundamental role in protecting the coast, preventing it from being eroded by the effect of waves and wind and also because it is the refuge of a very large endemic fauna and flora. The mangrove is a unique hybrid ecosystem, which only develops in intertidal areas, close to river mouths - as in the case of Isla Damas - with amphibious biotopes (both terrestrial and aquatic). In brackish water, mangroves grow, long woody trees very tolerant to salinity. In the mangroves of Isla Damas, we find three species of them: the white mangrove (recemous laguncularia) called "salt sticks" by the white color of their trunk, the red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) and black mangrove (known arpus erectus) because the black mangrove forests are very dense and tight. The mangles can be measured between 10 and 15 meters, with long, tangled roots that house microcosms of amphibians, crustaceans, molluscs and alevins. In this plant density, some channels have been made way alone and others by man's hand. Today, they travel on silent boats (for the tranquility of the animals that inhabit the mangrove), in canoes or in petals, in the company of naturalist guides that explain the natural characteristics of the mangrove. They are a true oasis of freshness, which the countless "white faces" monkeys and squirrels who live in these floating forests know very well. They have become accustomed to seeing man and come regularly to do their "clowns," swinging on the roof of the boats, for the greatest joy of their passengers. But it's t--it's t--it's t--it's forbidden to feed them! And it's never enough to say it once... We are not in the zoo but in a wild place where animals are unprotected from bacteria that man can carry. In addition, feeding them in this "artificial" way creates in them behaviors that can be aggressive. In the mangrove, crocodiles and caimans, boas, lazy and a wide variety of birds such as white herons, zarapitos, pink spatulas or frigates can also be observed. And for the most fortunate you can see, crouched in a mangle branch, a platanar seraph (didactylus cyclops) that is not a bear but an ant, of small size and nocturnal habits so its sighting is relatively complicated. It is true that the massification of river tourism in the mangrove, given its reduced size, would end up being harmful. But if it is done in a sustainable and intelligent way, it can also be your greatest support by raising people's awareness of the ecological value it has. .

Γεωγραφικό πλάτος:9.454288·Γεωγραφικό μήκος:-84.202846